Presently, the WWE has five titles, not including its NXT titles: World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, U.S., Tag Team and Women’s. While that may seem like a lot of champions, that often leaves a lot of the roster without a title chase or a meaningful storyline. It also means a lot of the roster never getting to hold a championship, even though they had established themselves as a dominant competitor.
In turn, for the benefit of house shows and locker room morale, there are some titles the WWE may want to consider reviving:
– Cruiserweight Title – With the upcoming tournament announced for the WWE Network, there is obviously some attention being put on the cruiserweights. Kalisto’s recent run as the U.S. Champion was underwhelming, but he could be convincing as a Cruiserweight Champion. The same could be said for Neville when he returns. This title picture would give room for matches that accommodate the luchadors and high-flyers on the roster as it did in peak WCW.
– Hardcore Title – When I think of the heyday of WWE’s Hardcore Champions, I remember that the people had to defend the title anytime and any place. Hence that one title defense by Crash Holly against The Headbangers in an arcade. Silliness aside, a lot of people on the current roster are brawlers, rather than mat wrestlers or flyers. Dean Ambrose, for example, would suit this title and also bring it worth. The same could be said for someone “dirty” like Luke Harper. The title, by name alone, reinforces that someone is tough and works hard.
– Women’s Secondary Title – It couldn’t be called the Divas Title anymore, so we’ll give it a TBD title on the name. Charlotte is doing a great job as the top women’s division heel, which means that no one comes close as a number two. Meanwhile, Natalya can’t hold a title, nor can Becky Lynch, both of whom are fan-friendly and hard-working. A secondary women’s champion title picture would also create a spot for new NXT call-ups to develop, rather than them sitting in a Summer Rae-esque place of obscurity.
– Tag Team Secondary Title – Since the tag belts were unified a few years back, this one would also need a new name. There are lots of tag teams and arguably at least two tag storylines going at any time, yet there is one tag team championship. As with the women’s division, a secondary tag title would leave room for another team besides the beloved New Day to shine. The Shining Stars, if they are going to be a real team, could hold this title. Same goes for The Golden Truth.
– European Title – Beyond this actually being another championship held by a WWE talent, this one would be smart for PR purposes, showing that the European fanbase means a lot to the company. Perhaps the title-holder is primarily based in Europe, giving them the chance to do more press there. Cesaro would be a natural for that, as would Neville or Rusev. Actual Europeans, and they could be the babyface when on the continent, much like how Bret Hart was such in Canada and then a heel elsewhere.
Going a step further on fantasy booking, here’s an idea for WWE to consider if a new championship title were to be considered: The People’s Champion. Imagine a title in which a certain number of defenses were guaranteed, and the stipulation for the defense was voted on by the fans each time. Sure, the fans wouldn’t control the booking, but with a legitimate voting system in place, the WWE would have indisputable evidence as to what kinds of matches its fans are hoping to see. In turn, some of the pay-per-views events could be tweaked as needed.
While this is an entirely-subjective post, I know that more champions doing more press and appearances could help the company. Whether it’s the return of a TV Title, a Canadian Title, or a 6-Man Tag Title, it’s all fine by me as long as talent is being showcased. With more talent satisfied with their role and acting as on-point international ambassadors, the company is in a more likely place to thrive financially, which potentially flows back to the talent in the form of pay-outs. In turn, fingers remain crossed for “Smackdown” to be great in its new live format.
Of all the titles you mentioned, the ONLY one that should be brought back is the Cruiserweight title. Even with the brand extension, there isn’t enough demand for a second women’s or tag team title (a women’s tag team title, however, has possibilities), and the European title served little or no purpose even while it was active. I know many fans want more titles (more titles = more storyline possibilities), but the more titles you have, the less important each one is.
As for the Hardcore title, WWE will NEVER bring it back. Doing so would seriously increase the risk of injuries to competitors and WWE doesn’t want the risk that some kid will copy a hardcore spot they see on TV, as their aim is to be family-friendly.